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Spinal Muscular Atrophy

What is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)?

Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of genetic diseases that damages and kills motor neurons. Motor neurons are a type of nerve cell in the spinal cord and lower part of the brain. They control movement in your arms, legs, face, chest, throat, and tongue.

As the motor neurons die off, your muscles start to weaken and atrophy (waste away). The muscle damage gets worse over time and can affect speaking, walking, swallowing, and breathing.

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Results 1 - 10 of 129 for SMA
  1. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (National Library of Medicine)  
    What is spinal muscular atrophy (SMA)? Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of genetic diseases that damages and kills motor neurons. Motor neurons are a type ...
  2. Smooth Muscle Antibody (SMA) Test What is a smooth muscle antibody (SMA) test? This test looks for smooth muscle antibodies (SMAs) in a ... 2 autoimmune hepatitis. Why do I need an SMA test? You may need an SMA test if ...
  3. Spinal muscular atrophy with lower extremity predominance (SMA-LED) is characterized by muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy) in the lower limbs, most severely ...
  4. X-linked infantile spinal muscular atrophy is a condition that affects only boys and is characterized by severe muscle weakness and absent reflexes (areflexia). ...
  5. Spinal muscular atrophy with respiratory distress type 1 (SMARD1) is an inherited condition that causes muscle weakness and respiratory failure typically beginning ...
  6. Spinal muscular atrophy with progressive myoclonic epilepsy (SMA-PME) is a neurological condition that begins in childhood. SMA-PME causes muscle weakness and wasting (atrophy) and a combination of seizures and ...
  7. Spinal muscular atrophy is a genetic disorder characterized by weakness and wasting (atrophy) in muscles used for movement (skeletal ... worsens with age. There are many types of spinal muscular atrophy that are caused by changes in the same ...
  8. About SMA: Frequently Asked Questions About SMA: FAQs What is Spinal Muscular Atrophy? Expand Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) is a genetic neuromuscular
  9. Spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) is a group of disorders of the motor neurons (motor cells). These disorders are passed down through families (inherited) ...
  10. Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA) (Muscular Dystrophy Association) - PDF  
    Spinal Muscular Atrophy/Start Here ... Spinal Muscular Atrophy ... Muscular Dystrophy Association ... PDF
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